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Malwarebytes gets tougher on PUPs
PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a so-called system optimizer. These “system optimizers” use intentional false positives to convince users that their Windows systems have problems. Then, they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems. The software is called Universal PC Mechanic, and it belongs to a family that started with Master PC Cleaner.
GUI of Universal PC Mechanic
Universal PC Mechanic uses the Task Scheduler to run when any user logs on. Users may notice the icon in the system tray and the main GUI of the program.
Scheduled Task for Universal PC Mechanic
Universal PC Mechanic icons
Programs in this family are promoted by fake online scanners and packaged in bundlers.
Website trying to scare users into thinking their system is infected
Programs like this might give users a false sense of security, possibly exposing them to malware infections. Users should be aware that the telephone numbers displayed by the programs in this family have been found to act as tech support scammers.
Malwarebytes blocks the installation of Universal PC Mechanic by detecting the installer and blocking the websites that spread and sell this software.
Malwarebytes blocks the Universal PC Mechanic installer.
Malwarebytes blocks the sites that make visitors think their systems are infected.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic without further user interaction.
A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 2/5/18 Scan Time: 9:15 AM Log File: b58b0a42-0a4c-11e8-9439-080027750297.json Administrator: Yes -Software Information- Version: 3.3.1.2183 Components Version: 1.0.262 Update Package Version: 1.0.3870 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 241428 Threats Detected: 64 Threats Quarantined: 64 Time Elapsed: 2 min, 47 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 1 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\oscm.exe, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 Module: 7 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\x64\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Common.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\oscm.exe, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\System.Data.SQLite.DLL, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\TAFactory.IconPack.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 Registry Key: 7 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\Universal PC Mechanic_Logon, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{C9BAE049-02D8-43A8-99F1-46825D4C3CDB}, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\LOGON\{C9BAE049-02D8-43A8-99F1-46825D4C3CDB}, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{0005F358-4516-4DC1-8E92-0210D7DDA29C}_is1, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.MasterPCCleaner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\SPCT-PR, Quarantined, [6571], [484509],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}, Quarantined, [7622], [486085],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.MasterPCCleaner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zbWFydHN5c3Rvb2xzLmNvbS8=, Quarantined, [6571], [440348],1.0.3870 Registry Value: 2 PUP.Optional.MasterPCCleaner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\SPCT-PR|PXL, Quarantined, [6571], [484509],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{0005F358-4516-4DC1-8E92-0210D7DDA29C}_is1|DISPLAYNAME, Quarantined, [7622], [486086],1.0.3870 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 8 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\x64, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\x86, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\PROGRAM FILES\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}, Quarantined, [7622], [486081],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\PROGRAMDATA\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\smico, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 File: 39 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\USERS\PUBLIC\DESKTOP\Universal PC Mechanic.lnk, Quarantined, [7622], [486083],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\PROGRAM FILES\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\unins000.dat, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\danish_apc_da.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\Dutch_apc_nl.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\english_apc_en.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\finish_apc_fi.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\French_apc_fr.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\german_apc_de.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\italian_apc_it.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\japanese_apc_ja.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\norwegian_apc_no.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\portuguese_apc_ptbr.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\russian_apc_ru.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\spanish_apc_es.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\langs\swedish_apc_sv.ini, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\x64\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\x86\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\AppRes.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\HtmlRenderer.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\HtmlRenderer.WinForms.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Common.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\oscm.exe, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\oscm.exe.config, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\System.Data.SQLite.DLL, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\TAFactory.IconPack.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\unins000.exe, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\unins000.msg, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\Universal PC Mechanic_Logon, Quarantined, [7622], [486080],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Buy Universal PC Mechanic.lnk, Quarantined, [7622], [486081],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Uninstall Universal PC Mechanic.lnk, Quarantined, [7622], [486081],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Universal PC Mechanic.lnk, Quarantined, [7622], [486081],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\ProgramData\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\mpc.db, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\Errorlog.txt, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\exlist.bin, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\res.xml, Quarantined, [7622], [486082],1.0.3870 PUP.Optional.UniversalPCMechanic, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\USMSETUP.EXE, Quarantined, [7622], [486087],1.0.3870 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)
Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.
If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, also add an exclusion of the type Allow an application to connect to the internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.
Possible signs in FRST logs:
() C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\oscm.exe
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Universal PC Mechanic_Logon
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Universal PC Mechanic.lnk
C:\ProgramData\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}
C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}
Universal PC Mechanic (HKLM\…\{0005F358-4516-4DC1-8E92-0210D7DDA29C}_is1) (Version: 1.0.0.1344 – )
Task: {C9BAE049-02D8-43A8-99F1-46825D4C3CDB} – System32\Tasks\Universal PC Mechanic_Logon => C:\Program Files\Universal PC Mechanic on {computername}\oscm.exe [2018-01-31] ()
US phone number: 855-332-0124
The name of the program files folder for the programs in this family use the format {name of the program on %computername%}
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